As a result of the social outbreak that occurred in Ecuadorwhere the president Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency, there are already 178 prison officials taken hostage in the prisons, in four days of violence. The drug traffickers carry 16 dead in total, after launching an offensive with shots and explosives.
The government’s explanation is that the recent attacks are a retaliation from illegal organizationswhich are made up of about 20 thousand members, in rejection of his firm hand policies to straighten the course of a country that until a few years ago was calm. In fact, in the last five years, the homicide rate per 100,000 inhabitants went from 6 to 46 in 2023.
In any case, the head of state warned that will not give in: “Give in to evil, never!, fight tirelessly, always!”, said in a speech the 36-year-old president, in power since November.
“They wanted to instill fear, but they aroused our anger. “They believed that they would subjugate an entire country and they forgot that the armed forces are trained for war,” said the Minister of Defense Gian Carlo Loffredoin a message on social networks.
More than 22,400 soldiers are deployed, there are patrols by land, air and sea, searches on the streets, operations in prisons and curfews.
A prison escape, the trigger
The crisis began on Sunday, when one of the most feared bosses disappeared from his prison in Guayaquil (southwest). The escape of Adolfo Macías, alias “Fito”, head of the country’s main criminal gang known as Los Choneros, was followed by a violent onslaught: prison riots, 178 prison officers held captive, seven police officers kidnapped, of whom six have already been released, attacks with explosives and vehicles burned.
On Wednesday night, the number of deaths increased to 16, after a fire in a nightclub where two people died and nine were injured. The police described this attack as terrorist. “If they mess with the population, they mess with the Armed Forces”insisted the Minister of Defense.
Activity resumes little by little in cities of Ecuador
Although activity resumed slightly in the main cities, many businesses remain closed, public transport runs less frequently than usual, Universities and schools attend classes virtually and teleworking prevails.
The port city of Guayaquil, the most dangerous in the country, is gradually resuming its activity. The main avenue of the city was seen this Thursday without its usual traffic jams, although the almost total confinement of the previous day eased. Some businesses plan to open half a day and some citizens were walking the streets on their way to work, just like in Quito.
“We are afraid, afraid that the least expected (moment) they will do the same thing again,” Inés Macas, a 69-year-old housewife who reported looting in the capital, told AFP.
Hundreds of soldiers and police are searching for Fito, while a state of emergency is in force throughout the country, including prisons, and a six-hour curfew, from 11:00 p.m. local
Source: Ambito
